What happened to the Hong Kong spirit? Don’t ask our mistreated domestic helpers
Lunar New Year is all about family unity, but rather than treat helpers like valued members, many employers treat them like slaves, says Luisa Tam
Kung hei fat choi and welcome to the Year of the Dog. Lunar New Year is considered to be the most important festival in Chinese culture, as it is all about family unity as relatives from around the globe gather together to usher in the new year.
Some people who have not grown up celebrating Lunar New Year may think it is akin to Christmas in the West because of its ethos of family unity, but they couldn’t be more wrong.
The Christmas spirit is not simply about family time but also giving to those beyond our immediate circle and lending a helping hand to those most in need. But Lunar New Year is mostly about spending time exclusively with one’s family. In other words, it embraces more a spirit of “receiving” than “giving”.
Living apart from employer is the only way this maid can truly unwind from the stresses of work
An Indonesian helper in my neighbourhood told me her employer allowed her only one day off this Lunar New Year and compensated her HK$280 (US$36) for the two rest days that she worked. Her employer’s logic was that since the Lunar New Year was not her national holiday, she might as well have worked instead of doing nothing. For the same reason, she was also made to work over Christmas as she is a Muslim and not one for Yuletide celebrations.